BOLD - Issue 16 March April 2019 MarApr19_BOLD_NL - Joomag | Page 3

welcome Welcome to our 16th edition of BOLD. 2019 is already set to be a fantastic year for the Toowoomba Region as we all continue to make the Region an enviable place to live, work and play. In December last year I had the absolute pleasure of attending the opening of the first section of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC). The $1.6billion project has been a real boost to the broader community during the construction period. The project’s contractors committed to spending 75% of the total spend locally, and from all reports have achieved in excess of that. This is absolutely fantastic news for our economy. The project, with 80% Federal Government funding and 20% from State Government, will save traffic at least 20 minutes in travel time. Currently, 3,500 trucks and up to 20,000 cars per day travel up the existing Range Crossing and through James Street. The TSRC completion will mean much of this traffic is redirected out of the central Toowoomba area, which will have a very positive effect on traffic flow. Our Region is continuing to face some very dry times and this is impacting all of us. Our water supplies are feeling the strain and it has been a very difficult time for many on the land. I encourage everyone to conserve water wherever possible and pay close attention to the water restrictions in your local area. As I write this in early February, I hope there will be rain in the not too distant future to fill dams and water supplies right across the Region. It’s exciting to see various tourism bodies working together to reinvigorate tourism across Toowoomba and the Darling Downs. When our communities work collaboratively and in conjunction with their local councils to promote the local area, we create wonderful opportunities to share our beautiful Region and lifestyle to the world. In recent times I have been lobbying the State and Federal Government for their financial support to assist and create tourism opportunities through targeted external funding. I hope you enjoy this edition of BOLD. Our team always welcomes feedback to make sure we deliver a publication that is enjoyable to our residents. If you would like to share your thoughts on this publication, please email [email protected] Cr Paul Antonio MAYOR councillors City Hall, 541 Ruthven St, Toowoomba Q 4350 I www.tr.qld.gov.au Cr Paul Antonio MAYOR, CHAIR – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE P 07 4688 6433 M 0429 954 109 E [email protected] Cr Carol Taylor DEPUTY MAYOR, CHAIR – INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE P 07 4688 6615 M 0417 723 948 E [email protected] Cr Nancy Sommerfield CHAIR – WATER & WASTE COMMITTEE P 07 4688 6605 M 0499 774 278 E [email protected] Cr Geoff McDonald CHAIR – ENVIRONMENT & COMMUNITY COMMITTEE P 07 4688 6784 M 0499 774 276 E [email protected] Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan PORTFOLIO LEADER – FINANCE & BUSINESS STRATEGY P 07 4688 6794 M 0477 071 824 E megan.o’[email protected] Cr James O’Shea PORTFOLIO LEADER – INFRASTRUCTURE P 07 4688 6406 M 0474 074 824 E james.o’[email protected] Cr Mike Williams CHAIR – FINANCE & BUSINESS STRATEGY COMMITTEE P 07 4688 6421 M 0428 182 976 E [email protected] Cr Bill Cahill PORTFOLIO LEADER – WATER & WASTE P 07 4688 6782 M 0419 908 083 E [email protected] Cr Chris Tait CHAIR – PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE P 07 4688 6793 M 0499 774 274 E [email protected] Cr Joe Ramia For information about water use in our Region and what restrictions currently apply, visit www.tr.qld.gov.au/water bold l www.tr.qld.gov.au/bold PORTFOLIO LEADER – ENVIRONMENT & COMMUNITY P 07 4688 6783 M 0491 490 900 E [email protected] Cr Anne Glasheen PORTFOLIO LEADER – PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT P 07 4688 6800 M 0408 718 720 E [email protected] 3